Pharmaceuticals

Survey Finds Drug Ads Drive Prescribing

by Bob Burton — January 9, 2007 - 8:54pm

A survey of 39,090 patients and 335 primary-care physicians reveals the power of direct-to-consumer advertising of drugs.

Main Source: 
Consumer Reports, February 2007

The Diagnostic 'Epidemic'

by Bob Burton — January 8, 2007 - 4:26am

Three doctors warn of an epidemic of medical diagnoses fostered by the "medicalization of everyday life", improvements in medical technology and an increasing emphasis on identifying those at 'risk' of a disease. "Perhaps most worrisome is the medicalization of childhood. If children cough after exercising, they have asthma; if they have trouble reading, they are dyslexic; if they are unhappy, they are depressed; and if they alternate between unhappiness and liveliness, they have bipolar disorder.

Main Source: 
New York Times, January 2, 2007

Medical Journal Pulls Column Critical of Patient Group

by Bob Burton — December 27, 2006 - 4:29am

In November, the New England Journal of Medicine pulled an opinion column by Dr. Robert Steinbrook that was critical of ties between the National Kidney Foundation and drug companies.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), December 26, 2006

How to Get Ahead in Drug Marketing

by Diane Farsetta — December 20, 2006 - 11:16am

According to internal marketing documents, "Eli Lilly encouraged primary care physicians to use Zyprexa, a powerful drug for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in patients who did not have either condition." Under U.S. law, companies can't promote "prescription drugs for conditions for which they have not been approved ...

Main Source: 
New York Times, December 18, 2006

A Letter Writer's Imagination

by Bob Burton — December 14, 2006 - 5:16am

A doctor who featured in the PR plans of the drug company GlaxoSmithKline has been appointed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to a committee reviewing possible links between anti-depressant drugs and suicidality. In December 2004, internal GlaxoSmithKline documents revealed that Dr.

Main Source: 
BioEthics, December 12, 2006

Government Scientist Pleads Guilty to Accepting Pfizer Fees

by Bob Burton — December 12, 2006 - 4:33pm

The chief of the geriatric psychiatry branch of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Pearson Sunderland III, has pleaded guilty to accepting approximately $300,000 in undisclosed fees and expenses from Pfizer between 1997 and 2004. The NIMH is a part of the U.S. government's National Institutes of Health (NIH), which conducts and funds medical research projects.

Main Source: 
Baltimore Sun, December 9, 2006

Sugary Deals Tempt Health Care Charities

by Jonathan Rosenblum — December 4, 2006 - 5:51pm

Public health charities are under intense pressure from potential or ongoing commercial sponsors to boost their budgets with product promotion schemes. For example, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) currently has a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with Cadbury Schweppes, maker of Dr. Pepper and the Cadbury Creme egg.

Main Source: 
The New York Times, November 25, 2006

Big Pharma Poised to Pay For Faster FDA Ad Approval

by Jonathan Rosenblum — November 22, 2006 - 10:51am

Negotiators representing Big Pharma and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are close to a deal on raising fees paid by industry to speed up reviews of direct-to-consumer advertising. A spokesperson for the trade group BioCentury said that the FDA is seeking to raise about $6.2 million per year, putting individual application review fees at about $41,000.

Main Source: 
Marketplace, November 21, 2006

Drug Industry's Glory Days May Be Over

by Bob Burton — November 22, 2006 - 4:24am

The drug industry is bracing itself for major legislative changes once the new Congress sits. Forbes journalist Matthew Herper notes that, following the mid-term elections, major drug company shares have dropped by over 5%.

Main Source: 
Forbes November 16, 2006
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